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CVE-2021-32030: Critical Vulnerability in ASUS GT-AC2900 and Lyra Mini

A critical authentication bypass vulnerability exists in ASUS GT-AC2900 and Lyra Mini devices, allowing unauthorized access to administrative interfaces. Immediate action is required to mitigate risks.

CRITICALKnown ExploitedCVSS 9.8 · Published May 6, 2021

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The administrator application on ASUS GT-AC2900 devices before 3.0.0.4.386.42643 and Lyra Mini before 3.0.0.4_384_46630 allows authentication bypass when processing remote input from an unauthenticated user, leading to unauthorized access to the administrator interface. This relates to handle_request in router/httpd/httpd.c and auth_check in web_hook.o. An attacker-supplied value of '\0' matches the device's default value of '\0' in some situations.

Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive configurations and data, allowing attackers to exploit the router's administrative capabilities.

This vulnerability is classified as critical with a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating the urgency for defenders to take immediate action. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.

As of now, no public exploit has been confirmed, but the vulnerability is included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, which indicates its potential for exploitation in the wild.

Organizations should disable remote access features from WAN to mitigate this vulnerability until a patch is available.

For further reference and guidance on mitigation strategies, users can consult vendor resources.

Vulnerability Details

CVE-2021-32030 affects ASUS GT-AC2900 and Lyra Mini devices. The authentication bypass vulnerability allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to the administrative interface, significantly impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The CVSS score is 9.8 (critical), indicating a high level of severity. The vulnerability relates to improper authentication (CWE-287), which allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms.

The affected firmware versions are all versions prior to 3.0.0.4.386.42643 for the GT-AC2900 and 3.0.0.4_384_46630 for the Lyra Mini.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper handling of remote input in the affected devices. An attacker can leverage this flaw to send a specific input that bypasses authentication checks, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the administrative interface.

The attack vector is network-based, with low complexity, requiring no privileges or user interaction. This means that an attacker can exploit the vulnerability easily without needing to authenticate.

The potential impacts include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, as unauthorized users could alter device settings and configurations.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Organizations utilizing the affected ASUS devices face significant risks. The potential for unauthorized access to the router's administrative interface can lead to further exploitation, including data breaches and network compromise.

The blast radius is considerable, as many organizations may deploy these devices in sensitive environments. Failure to address this vulnerability promptly could expose organizations to compliance violations and reputational damage.

Given the critical CVSS score and recognition in the KEV catalog, organizations should prioritize remediation efforts in their patch cycle.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

Yes

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The affected versions include all firmware versions prior to 3.0.0.4.386.42643 for ASUS GT-AC2900 and 3.0.0.4_384_46630 for Lyra Mini. Users utilizing unsupported versions should take immediate action to mitigate risks.

Mitigation & Remediation

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should disable remote access features from WAN. ASUS has recommended applying firmware updates, which are essential to close the vulnerabilities.

For more information on how to implement these updates, please refer to ASUS's official documentation or support pages.

Detection Guidance

Monitoring network logs for unusual authentication attempts can help detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, keep an eye on behavioral anomalies that may suggest unauthorized access.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure authentication mechanisms in networked devices, especially in consumer products. The trend towards increasing remote management capabilities must be balanced with robust security controls to prevent unauthorized access.

As a strategic defensive takeaway, organizations should implement a thorough vulnerability management program that includes regular security assessments and prompt remediation of identified vulnerabilities.

For organizations looking to enhance their security posture, consider engaging in continuous penetration testing, which can help identify and mitigate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

For more insights on vulnerability management, organizations can refer to our comprehensive resources on penetration testing and related security practices.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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